Panel for curtain walls



NOV. 27, 1962 w cHs 3,065,831

PANEL FOR CURTAIN WALLS Filed April 24, 1959 1/ I? 11 12 13' Zif/Q {I 1:

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3,065,831 Patented Nov. 27, 1962 3,065,831 PANEL FOR CURTAIN WALLSKonrad Wachsmann, Chicago, 11L, assignor to Armco Steel Corporation,Middletown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 24, 1959, Ser. No.808,771 4 Claims. (Cl. 18985) This invention relates to a panel forcurtain walls. in my copending application Serial No. 808,659, filedApril 24, 1959, I have disclosed and claimed a modular buildingconstruction characterized by the fact that a grid-like framework isprovided wherein the intersecting surfaces of the building come betweenelements of the framework so that no frame element is disposed in anycorner.

In my copending application Serial No. 808,740, filed April 24, 1959, lhave disclosed a locking device for locking or securing panels to theinside or outside of such a framework whereby the panels may be securedto the framework or released from the framework by means of a simpletool from either side of the wall.

The present invention relates to a panel for use in such a buildingconstruction and which is adapted to be secured in position by such alocking device. The panel of course may have utility in other structuresbut it is particularly useful in connection with the structures of theabove mentioned copending applications.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a panel for eitherinside or outside use in connection with a grid-like framework and toprovide such panel with means whereby it may be secured to theframework. It is another object of the invention to provide such a panelwhich is extremely simple in construction and which is adaptable to manytypes of surface treatment.

Reference is made to the drawings forming a part hereof and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view of a typical panel according to thepresent invention.

FlUURE 2 is a cross-sectional view through a portion of a typicalframework showing the manner in which the panels may be secured to theframework.

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of one form of panel, and

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of another form of panel.

It should be understood at the outset that while I have illustratedherein a rectangular panel, the specific configuration of the panel isnot a limitation upon the invention. Since the panel is to be used witha modular grid, the panel will be of a size and shape dictated by thegrid. Thus, if the grid is based on a module which is the same in thevertical and horizontal planes, the panels will be square. If thedimensions are different, the panels will be rectangular. For certaintypes of structures the panels may be triangular, hexagonal, or evenhave arcuate edges. Basically, however, I provide a panel of therequired shape having a down-turned peripheral frame engaging edge.Adjacent this edge but inset therefrom I provide inwardly extendingattaching elements which are adapted to be engaged by locking devicessecured to the frame, which locking devices may be of the form disclosedin the aforesaid copending application.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, a panel is generallyindicated in FIGURE 1 at 10. This panel is illustrated as being squareor rectangular and it is provided with the down-turned peripheral edge11. Ad jacent the edges but inset therefrom there are provided theinwardly extending members 12 provided with the slots 13.

The manner of attachment of these panels to a framework is somewhatdiagrammatically illustrated in FIG- URE 2, where two such panels areshown in association with a frame member generally indicated at 14.Mounted in the frame element 14 is a locking device generally indicatedat 15 and provided with a locking member 16. Details of the lockingdevice form no part of the present invention but for details of alocking device which may desirably be used, reference is made to my saidcopending application. Basically, the locking device comprises thelocking member 16 which may be rotated to a position wherein it lieswithin the member 14 (the unlocked position) or rotated to a positionwhere the ends of the locking member 16 extend out through apertures 17in the member 14 and engage in slots 13 in the members 12. By means of ascrew 18, the locking member 16 may be drawn up so as to cause thedown-turned edges 11 of the panels to bear against the member 14.According to my copending application, the member 14 is provided withthe aligned apertures 19 through which an operating tool may be insertedfor engagement with the bolt or screw 18.

The members 12 may be secured to the panels 11 by welding or in anyother desired way and it will be understood that the panel may beprovided with any necessary or desirable bracing or stiffeningstructure. The panels 10 may be flat, domed, dished, or provided withany desired surface treatment such as porcelain, enamel or paint or theymay have a stainless steel or aluminum surface. It will also beunderstood that the panels may be open in the form of Window frames ordoor frames if desired and the details of the construction of suchpanels do not form a part of the present invention and are therefore notdescribed in detail.

The fastening members 12 may be of the form shown in FIGURES 1 and 3wherein they are shown as separate or discreet tabs 12 with the slots13, or they may be in the form of a substantially continuous skirt-likemember 12a having in appropriate positions the slots 13. If the panelsare square or rectangular, it will generally be preferable to providefor fastening of each panel adjacent each end thereof so that if thepanel is rectangular there will be two members 12 along each side of thepanel, one near each end, and if the skirt-like member 12a is providedthere will be a slot 13 adjacent each end of each side. For someinstallations, a single central slot may suffice and of course thenumber of slots and locking devices may be increased if desired. If willbe understood that the same principles apply regardless of thegeometrical configuration of the panels.

It will be understood that an almost infinite Variety of panels may beprovided according to the present invention and I therefore do notintend to limit myself except as set forth in the claims which follow.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A curtain wall panel for use in connection with a framework havingattaching elements for pulling said panel into tight engagement withsaid framework, said panel being of sheet metal and having a uniformperiph- 3 4 eral down-turned frame engaging edge, and having invided atleast one inwardly extending element for each wardly extending elementsinset from the periphery of edge of the panel. said panel sufiicientlyto clear the said framework, said 4. A panel according to claim 1,wherein there are inwardly extending elements having slots for engagetwoinwardly extending elements for each edge of said ment by said attachingelements, whereby said panel can 5 panel, one adjacent each end of eachedge thereof. accommodate itself to slight variations in flatness of theReferences Cited in the file of this Patent framework.

2. A panel according to claim 1, wherein said inward- UNITED STATESPATENTS 1y extending elements are constituted by a substantially 96,922Jackson Nov. 16, 1869 continuous skirt. 10 2,006,070 Di Stasio June 25,1935 3. A panel according to claim 1, wherein there is pro- 2,230,349Eaton et a1. Feb. 4, 1941

